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arista · 07-01-2026, 01:34 PM

USA has boarded it

But it has painted a Russian flag on it

On its way to Venezuela?

This is Dangerous

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwynjdqgellt

[The US is carrying out an operation
to seize a tanker linked to Venezuelan oil,
an official tells CBS, the BBC's US partner

Earlier, several military aircraft
were tracked over the North Atlantic heading
towards the vessel, the Marinera.
Footage released by Russian media
also appears to show a US vessel
close to the ship

BBC Verify is following the tanker's
journey - it's around 200km (120 miles)
south of Iceland and recently changed course

The ship is accused of breaking
US sanctions and
shipping Iranian oil - it's historically
transported Venezuelan crude oil but
reports say it's empty at the moment

Earlier, reports said Russia had deployed
a submarine and other vessels to
escort the tanker across the Atlantic]

Maru · 07-01-2026, 03:08 PM

What we know about US seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela
https://news.sky.com/story/what-we-k...zuela-13491539

Quote:

The sanctioned tanker, originally known as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, is now in US custody, the United States European Command has confirmed

Where was the tanker seized?

US forces boarded the tanker in the North Atlantic, between Iceland and Scotland as it was travelling north.

A Russian submarine and warship were close by, two US officials told Reuters.

A US official told the Associated Press the military seized the vessel and handed over control to law enforcement officials.

In a statement on X, Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of war, said: "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT - anywhere in the world."

Why was it seized?

The US has been pursuing the tanker for two weeks since it slipped through a maritime "blockade" around Venezuela.

It was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The US Coast Guard initially attempted to intercept the vessel last month, but it refused to be boarded.

It has since registered under a Russian flag; when it left the Caribbean, it was sailing under a Guyana flag.

Was the UK involved?

RAF surveillance planes were involved in the US operation and monitored the tanker as it passed through waters between Iceland and the UK, according to The i newspaper.

The paper said UK airbases were used to launch US military aircraft involved in the operation.

The Ministry of Defence is yet to comment on the seizure.

Sky News OSINT producer Lydia Morrish said three US Air Force special operations command aircraft left Wick Airport in Scotland in the afternoon, heading in the direction of Iceland and were expected to land in Reykjavik around 3pm.

An RAF military transport aircraft was also estimated to land there at the same time after taking off from RAF Brize Norton around 11.30am.

It was unclear what those planes were doing or if their movements were linked to the US oil tanker operation.

What has Russia said?

Before the US seized the vessel, Russia's foreign ministry said the tanker was in international waters and was acting according to international maritime law, according to Russian state broadcaster RT.

The ministry said the ship was flying the Russian flag and called on Western countries to respect its right to freedom of navigation.

arista · 07-01-2026, 03:39 PM

[The ministry said the ship was flying the Russian flag
and called on Western countries to respect its right
to freedom of navigation.]

Yes cleverly
That tanker changed to a Russian Ship

Maru · 07-01-2026, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista

[The ministry said the ship was flying the Russian flag
and called on Western countries to respect its right
to freedom of navigation.]

Yes cleverly
That tanker changed to a Russian Ship

picks random Asian country... "Hi, I identify as a shrimp boat"